In 2024, the ALGAR summer school will be dedicated to the study of the Brauer group (of a commutative ring or a scheme) as a tool in algebraic geometry and in number theory. This will address its definition via Azumaya algebras as well as the cohomological definition, and the relations between the two. It will further include applications of the Brauer group to rationality problems for varieties, in particular over number fields in terms of the Brauer-Manin obstruction. The confirmed speakers are:

The preliminary days serve to get more familiar with the basic notions from Galois cohomology and the theory of central simple algebras over a field. Such familiarity will be assumed for the main part of the summer school.

Target group

3rd year bachelor students, master students, PhD and potdoc researchers.

Participants should have a basic understanding of number theory, algebraic geometry and/or quadratic form theory. 

Study credits (ECTS)

3 ECTS credits are awarded upon succesful completion of the programme. All certificates of completion are issued as a micro-credential. 

Social programme

Participants will be able to get in touch with peers attending other summer schools at the Antwerp Summer University. A visit to the beautiful city hall, a networking reception, a guided city walk, a quiz night, a football game and a day-trip to another Belgian city such as Bruges or Brussels are only some examples of these activities.

All activities of the social programme are offered free of charge, in some cases participants will be asked for a deposit which will be reimbursed upon participation to the activity.